Rise And Fall

Last Words

"Can this day get any worse?!" said Tobias frustrated while talking to himself "It's one bad thing after another. First a house got set on fire in the village, then someone's farm dried up and now I have to go to Mrs. Galloway's house and listen to her story about how a man stole her horse. It is so hard being the future king of Blaire Haven."
"With my dad taking his last breaths from getting typhus and my mom dealing with stress because of his illness, I don't know where to turn to for advise. The throne isn't even mine yet and I'm already feeling stressed." Tobias kicks a rock laying in the path, on his way to Mrs. Galloway, and brushes the brown lock of hair out of his face and continues talking to himself. "Yes, I know being the crown prince has a lot of duties and responsibilities connected to it but sometimes I feel like there is constantly a big mass on my shoulders. I don't know how to run a kingdom and I'm sure that when I become king it will fall to the ground and burn up in flames." Tobias sits down on the ground with his head in his hands. "My father keeps telling me that "It will get easier" well when, because I'm starting to give up." Tobias gets back up and continues to walk along the path.
After a few minutes Tobias could see a figure in the distance and it was getting closer and closer. When he could see the figure clearly he could make out the gold and red sleeves of a palace servant's uniform.
"Is that the royal messenger in the distance coming towards me?" Tobias thought to himself "I hope he brings good news, because I swear if I hear one more bad thing I'll collapse."
"Your Highness, your presence is requested at your father's bedside and I'm afraid it's rather important." said the messenger. "Oh no, this can only mean one thing," Tobias thought to himself  "he can't leave us now, he is the best ruler that this kingdom has ever seen."
Tobias runs towards the castle. Outside it looks like a magnificent white brick castle with windows shining like white crystals in the afternoon sun and it has a light brown, wooden interior with paintings of past kings and queens decorating every inch of the walls. Tobias runs up the wooden stairs and with every step he takes the floor creaks underneath his feet.  Tobias runs down the large hallway towards his father's bedroom. He bursts through the doors and there he is, laying in his bed and Tobias could see it in his father's eyes, from the doorway, that he is beginning to give up. His eyes was once a greenish blue but now it's just grey. It's like the color has drained from them just like the life is almost completely drained from his body.
"I came as fast as I could, father," said Tobias "What's wrong?"
"My son, oh my beautiful son," said his father "I fear that the end is near and that you will have to take my place as ruler of Blaire Haven" His father starts to cough.
"I fear that I won't make it much longer," his father continues "Death is at my doorstep and the joy of life has drained from my body."
"F-father, don't say that," Tobias said with tears in his eyes "Y-you know I can't do this without you. I will get you the best doctor if it's the last thing I have to do. J-just don't leave me."
"I'm sorry my son but I'm afraid my last hours are almost over but I know that you will do wonders for this kingdom ," said his father with tears in his eyes "I'll always be with you, inside your heart and I will guide you through the though times. Just listen to your heart and you will know what to do. I love you son."
And with those last words the last drop of life left his father's body and his last breath left his lungs. "I- I love you too, father." Tobias said with a trembling voice and a heavy heart.